Vessel-propelling means



Jan 6 1931. v A. L. WIDDIS 1,737,844

VESSEL PROPELLING MEANS Filed Oct. '19, 1929 'IIIIJIIIIIJIII. 4

IN VENTOH HLBERTL. Moms .8 Y

ATTORNEY.

patented Jan. 6,

U'Nrrsn stares.

FATE

ALBERT L. winnis, on iiii anisviniin v ioniean VESSEL-PROPELLING MEANS" Application filed October 19, 1929. Serial'No. 400,798.

This invention relates toa novel means for propelling vessels which is inexpensive, and which has no wearing parts order. v V V An'object otiny invention is to provide a vessel propelling means which can be readily installed upon any of the present, well-known types or" vessels, and which is simple in con-- struction and is easy to operate.

, A further object of my invention is to provide a means forheating aplate or the like to a high temperature, the plate being in contact with the water and'then .directing the energy which is created by the vapors formed in the water, to propel the vessel.

' sectional view of a vessel with another, slight- 1y modified form of my shown thereon.

Figure 3is a side elevation of a further adaption of my propelling means. 7 V

'Figure dis a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of one of the-power units "shown in Figure 3. i I Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates theohull of a vessel of any suitable designer character. A plate 2 is'provided below the Water line of the vessel and this plate is heated to a high temperature by a means to be subsequently propelling means described. The plateQ'can be made of-asuit- I v r as an electricalheating unit 10. A cylinder 11 fits over the plunger 9 and is pivotally con-" able non-corrosive inetal,or other substances which will not be materially a'iiected bythe .high temperature. l

' As shown in Figure 1 the by a chamber 3 within the hull; The chamber 3 is fed from a stack 4, and suitable material is fed into the chamber, such as coal, or. oilto get out of taini istances,

late 2 is'heated" cokeoranyother solid, gas or liquid, orb-y an city-acetylene oroXy-aluminum flame. In

fact any combustible material may be used. The chamber 3 is insulatedon three sides by suitableinsulation 5, but the sides towards the plate 2; is lei't uninsulated so that thefull" eflect of the heat is expanded against the plate.-

I have found that when water comes in co'ntactcwith a highly heated surface, that there is a rapid accumulation of steamwhicli will. exert considerable force, The steam "formed adjacent to: the plate 2 Will expand rapidly and will. consequently exert a forward propelling it'orce against the hull of the vessel. For greater efficiencyl may provide an outwardly extending tube 6 whichis see is positioned over, the plates,

An opening or openings 7 isprovided in the tube Gadjacent the plate 2' to permit the water toenter the 'tube'. Aslpreviously stated, the Water coming. in contact with the heated cured to tlie h ull 1, on the outside tliei'eo'h and plate-'2 will formsteam-which willbe expanded through the tube 6 and will propel the vessel. 5 I do not; .wish :tofconfine myself to the presently directed: means for bringing thewater in contact. with the heating area, for

*other means may also be used within the scope ofiny invention.

As'shown iii-Figure 'ing element :Sis positioned adjacent to the 2, an electrically heatplate 2 in order'to heat said plate. In,c,er-

I particularly with the electric heating means it may. behfound desirable to eliminate thelplate 2' and place the heating element directly in contact with the water which enters the tube 6. In Figures 3+4 I have shown my propelling means applied to a reciprocating motion and this arrangement comprises a plunger 9 which is stationary and is heated by any of the means previouslyst'ated and is here shown J nected to a beam 12 which is pivotally mount in upon astand'ard-ll. A water retaining and when it comes in contact with the top of the heated plunger 9, steam Will be formed and Will drive the cylinder 11 upwardly, A

vent port 16 is provided in the cylinder to permitescape of steam after the cylinder has moved to thetop of its stroke. 7

A port 17 is provided'adjacent theupper end ofthe cylinder 11, the last named port being' normally closed, but it may be opened means to heat said plateto a hightemperav When it is desired to stop the cylinder.

Having described my invention, I claim:

- 1; A vessel propelling means} comprising a plate'bel-ow the level of the Water, and

ture, a face of said plate being'exposed to the Water whereby a propelling'efiect is ob- ;tained.

2'. A vessel propelling means comprising aplate below the level of the Water, and means to heat saidplate to a high temperature and a tube on the outside of the vessel extending from said plate," the steam gen erated by contact of the ater with the plate,

being expanded through the tube.

.3. A vessel propelling means comprising a plate in the hull of the vessel, a chamber inside ofthe vessel, heating means in the chamber whereby the plate is heated to a high temperature, a tube secured to the hull of the vessel and positioned on the outside of the vessel, said tube having wa ter intake ports therein adjacent said plate.

4. A'vessel propelling means comprising a plate secured to the vessel and positioned below the level of the Water, a chamber with- V in the hull, a feed stack extending to the fchamberthrough which fuel is fed to heat efiect is obtained V lllng means comprising a said plate, the outer faceof said plate being exposed to the Water whereby a propelling 7 5, A vessel prope plate positioned in thevessel b'elowthe level of the Water, an electrical-heating element adjacentsaid plate, said heating element being 7 adapted to raise the'temperature of the plate to a high degree, the outer face of said plate being exposed to the water whereby a propelling'eifect is obtained. r

- V In testimonyiwhereof, I aflix my signature.

V ALBEB'IYL, ID Is. 

